In January I posted a piece about the Appalachian Land Ownership Study that was conducted in the late 1970s across five states in the central Appalachian region. I also noted that a new study was just starting in the region in order to revisit these issues to understand what has changed and not changed over the past 35 years since the first study was completed.

I am pleased to announce the first open community event related to the new land study being conducted in Tennessee. A team of activists, scholars and community members from across East Tennessee have been developing the curriculum for a one-day teach-in to familiarize participants about the past land study and to invite them to help co-create the new activities for the study which will be happening in Tennessee over the next 2-3 years.

According to the organizing team, “This teach-in will be the first step in the process of gathering input from across the region, and training and empowering citizens to do the work of the study in their own communities.We will share information about past land studies and ways to do the work, and will collect feedback from Tennesseans about what they want to know about who owns their communities.”

Among the goals of the teach-in will be:

Discussing the history of land ownership in Tennessee and Appalachia

Identifying local histories and public assets in communities throughout East Tennessee

Sharing the outcomes and processes of previous studies

Learning how to access and compile land ownership data

Developing a list of priorities for the study that meet your local needs